Since 1978 I have been fortunate to sail wooden boats. In 2006 I set out to find a Drascombe Longboat Cruiser for single-handed expedition sailing. This is the continuing story of how it came to be, our adventures, notes on the maritime world and other things I don't want to forget...

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Commuter

Spar-making is going along real well. Have been making the "commute" to John and Vera's. They are on a trip to Texas and I am alone to progress. Shaped the main halyard sheave with files and coarse paper by making an axle out of a threaded bolt and locking nuts, then chucking in the drill press. Drilled through the mast and with a few adjustments to the rectangular hole... she spun freely.

The mast band that carries the shrouds and jib wire/forestay required a rabbet around the top of the mast and the tabernacle bolt hole was oversized to accept a pivot bushing. John had shaped a white oak crook into two gaff throat sides and I inset them into the gaff end. With all the tooling complete, the spars got sanded again.

Yesterday I returned and flow coated with WEST thinned with acetone. This, hopefully will penetrate the soft spruce and protect the varnish surface from inevitable dings and discoloring. This morning they were dry and ready for sanding in the near future.

Annie is a 21'9" wooden Drascombe Longboat Cruiser with Coaster modifications. She was built in the East West Custom Boats yard in Eliot, Maine in 2007. Her hull is sapele marine ply and WEST epoxy with trim in plantation mahogany and recycled teak. The rig is a loose-footed sliding gunter main, roller-reefing headsail and loose-footed mizzen.

About Me

I am a museum exhibit designer, former curator and an aspiring maritime painter. I have a wonderful family and am dedicated to sailing traditional small craft. You can see my exhibit and artwork at CurtisBowman.com